Tentacle difference causes???

[Swayze27]

What causes the difference in tentacle thickness and flexibility in Magnifica anemones. Both of mine are super healthy but one of mine has really thick, rigid tentacles and does not allow the flow to manipulate him and my other has smaller, fine tentacles that it lets be blown all over the place. What causes this? Is it difference in what waters the nem was collected in, etc.? The anemone with the larger, rigid tentacles does "loosen up" at night and allows tentacles to be whipped around. I'm not concerned, just curious to know.

 

[OrionN]

Health can be the cause. The on on the R looks healthier. Also IME, Magnifica from Africa have shorter stockier tentacles than elsewhere in the Pacific.

 

[Swayze27]

The one on the left has gotten pretty large since adding him 2 weeks ago. I think the previous owner had him under poor lighting for a little while before I got him (current USA led) I believe. He upgraded tanks and put his good lighting on his new tank. I have been feeding about every 2-3 days. He has not moved in the 2 weeks he's been in. Should I feed more often or is there anything else I can do to promote good health for both of these guys? I also have a haddoni that I have forced to move to a better location by changing flow and adding rock work. I have been feeding him a little more too and he is greening up more and more.

 

[taylor t]

I don't know it it transfers to mags, but my gigs have changed tentacle density/apperance/thickness - what ever we judge them with, in different water/lighting/flow differences over time. The same anemone that gets one set of standards, gets moved/environment changes, and tents change - not right away, but months later I've watched mine change. If I was to guess, my guess is pure environmental. Just my guess, based off changes I've seen in my own gigs over time. May not carry over to mags, I don't know.

 

[jah hoeva]

I totally agree Taylor. My mag has drastically changed appearance since he has been in my tank. I was told its from Africa, and it came in with the shorter, thicker tentacles that were mentioned above. But now the tentacles are longer and thinner.

 

[Swayze27]

I think over time mine will do the same with the addition of better lighting and regular feedings. I believe the previous owner began to neglect it after he got his new tank.

 

[OrionN]

Health and condition have a lot to do with it. However, my experiences from keeping many Magnifica indicated that there are sub population of Magnifica that are different in appearance from each other under the same condition (or very similar). Also some are naturally split-er and will reproduce by fission and other will not.